La Fête, le Sacrifice et la Forme

This article aims to connect the human characteristic of being sapiens demens (Edgar Morin) with the concept of public celebration, of which Carnival is the most significant manifestation, as representing the destruction of a past or ailing order to regenerate it, and the chaos of the celebration appearing as a return to a sacred primordial in opposition to established secular order. Sacrifice, often associated within these contexts, is referred to and an explanation is offered for it. Also, dreams put us in contact with a chaotic world or outside our daily order and, among certain peoples, the word that designates chaos and dream is one and the same. Lastly, the human and social manifestations of chaos and of excess are related to certain excesses in nature (colors and forms), showing a Form that unites three levels, man, culture and nature, and which shows that all share characteristics in common.